NS.com Book Review – “A Vactation Gone South”

I have known Will Brink a long time now, ever since he wrote for NavySEALs.com ‘back in the day’ covering various topics important to tactical athletes, be they special operations types, law enforcement, or civilians. Will has been an SME on health and performance topics for those looking to optimize their level of fitness and health for decades. I even had him on my podcast a while ago. When he told me he had written a series of fiction novellas, and I checked out the feedback, I decided it was worth checking out, and I’m glad I did.

His fast paced novella, Vacation Gone South, is about a couple of SOF buddies from a Special Mission Unit who take some down time in Panama. Things “go south” when one goes missing and things spiral out of control. Will is attentive to small and important details of tradecraft that authors in this genre often miss, and he writes without a Rambo-esque bravado or non-stop, incredulous action. It’s realistic and engaging. Brink inserts a good dose of humor and even conceives of some new tech gadgets in part II.

I enjoyed some of the internal dialogue of the main character, and dialogue. The very first sentence of the story gives you some taste and idea how it rolls:

“I needed a gun, and I needed one now. It’s no coincidence; I don’t believe in coincidence and some ugly motherfuckers just tried to kill me.”

How can you not want to continue reading after an opening like that?! The book is full of gems like that which will appeal to lovers of gritty hard boiled action.

It’s obvious Will did his homework about Panama (I know he visits that country regularly) and is clearly no stranger to firearms and their use and while he’s not a member of the SOF community, he “gets” the mindset. Action packed, politically incorrect, and depicting a credible scenario that should satisfy fans of SOF based fiction yarns. The litmus test for me for a good fiction yarn is if it makes me feel like I’m actually there in the action, and Vacation Gone South passes than test with flying colors.

That proceeds go to a mil based charity that hunts child predators.

Two buddies go on vacation for some much needed R&R. Even those from the tip of the spear Special Operations community of America’s elite Tier One units have to go on vacation to destress and decompress like the rest of working stiffs. Not all vacations go according to plan unfortunately, and this one went from sun, fun, and pretty girls to FUBAR quickly. One man is missing, the other is on the run from unknown assassins. What went wrong?

Who targeted them for murder and why? Was it a random event or major security breach? Only fast thinking, violence of action, and some luck will see them survive it.

The would be assassins don’t realize these are men difficult to kill and they will take the fight to the enemy and surrender is not an option. This gritty fast paced story of a vacation in Central America gone south will entertain fans of hard boiled gritty action & adventure yarns. With Panama City Panama as the back drop for this dynamic story, readers will want more!